Quick-make, quick-break electric disconnect switch



Nov. 24, 1964 G. J. EMERICK ETAL 3,158,724

QUICK-MAKE, quxcx BREAK ELECTRIC DISCONNECT SWITCH Filed June 20, 1962 4Sheets-Sheet 1 22 FIGJ 20 l-l ll I 26 L 3 34 52 1 144 INVENTOILS GERALDJ. EMERICK ERNEST W. STOHF? 2 la. [Fl/Q;

ATTORNEY Nov. 24, 1964 G. J. EMERICK ETAL 3,158,724

QUICK-MAKE, QUICK BREAK ELECTRIC DISCONNECT SWITCH Filed June 20, 1962 4Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.3

I I I l I I INVENTORS GERALD J. EMERICK BYERNEST w. STOHR ATTORNEYQUICK-MAKE, QUICK BREAK ELECTRIC DISCONNECT SWITCH Nov. 24, 1964 G. J.EMERICK ETAL 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 20,

IIIIIHHML- INVENTORS GERALD d. EMEFHCK BYERNEST WSTOHR 24AM Zak/4.;

ATTORNEY Nov. 24, 1964 G. J. EMERICK ETAL- QUICK-MAKE, QUICK BREAKELECTRIC DISCONNECT SWITCH Filed June 20, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 -w 1M21,. m

ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,158,72 QUICK-MAKE, QUICK-BREAK ELECTRICDISCQ NNECT SWETCH Gerald J. Ernericlr, Spctswood, and Ernest W. Stohr,

Scotch Plains, NJ, assignors to Federai Pacific Eiectric Company, acorporation of Delaware Filed June 20, 1962, Ser. No. 203,733 6 Claims.(Cl. zen-r53 This invention relates generally to electric switches andmore particularly to disconnect switches having quickmake andquick-break characteristics.

Disconnect switches are used for sectionalizing portions of transmissionlines or bus distribution systems. When a switch is closed against aconnected load, the load current flows through the first portions of thecontacts that touch. On occasion, the load circuit may beshortcircuited. In that case, an electromagnetic force would developalmost instantly, tending to blow the contact arm away from thestationary contact. If the switch is allowed to open or to bounce openduring a closing stroke because of short-circuit currents, an arc wouldresult which would be highly destructive. Such switches are not designedfor interrupting short-circuit currents. Therefore it is important thatthe closing mechanism should provide high mechanical contact-closingforce to insure completion of the contact-closing stroke despitepossibly high blow-off forces due to a short-circuit.

Large switches of knife-blade construction have been used as disconnectswitches under no-load conditions. Where such switches are used forclosing and opening a circuit under load conditions, the operatingmechanism should eifect quick operation to avoid destructive arcing atthe contacts. In prior devices the velocity of the main contact wasgreater at the beginning of the closing operation, when far from thecompanion contact, rather than at the end of its stroke when adjacentthe companion contact. Further, the amount of force available at the endof the closing stroke was insufiicient to close the contacts undershort-circuit conditions. It is an object of this invention to providean improved load-break disconnect switch having high-speed operatingcharacteristics.

It is another object of this invention to provide a simplilieddisconnect switch having a stored energy operating mechanism.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a disconnect switchwith a single stored energy mechanism which is used to open and closethe switch.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide switch operatingmeans which includes a stored energy mechanism having -a uni-directionalpower stroke that is arranged to effect both contact-opening andcontactclosing strokes.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a thrustcoupling means which converts uni-directional power input strokes intoalternate bi-directional contactoperating strokes.

The rapid operation of the switch is achieved in one embodiment of theinvention by the provision of a switch having compact stored energymeans having a uni-directional power stroke and coupling means forconnecting the stored energy means to the switch contact arm. The storedenergy mechanism is of the rechargeable type which stores the operatingenergy in a group of compressed spn'ngs. The same stored energymechanism used to drive the contact arm of the switch in the openingdirection as well as in the closing direction.

The above and other objects, advantages and novel features of theinvention become apparent from the following description of anillustrative embodiment when Ice taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation of a portion of a disconnect switchillustrating an embodiment of the invention in its various aspects;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation in partial section of the disconnect switchin FIG. 1 viewed along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1 with some parts in sectionand other parts omitted in the interests of clarity; and

FIG. 3 is a partial view similar to FIG. 2 showing the mechanism in theopen circuit position;

FIG. 4 is a front View, on a greatly enlarged scale of anotherembodiment of the coupling means;

FIG. 5 is an end view of the coupling means of FIG. 4;

FIGS. 69 are diagrammatic representations of the mode of operation ofthe coupling of FIG. 4;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary front elevation of the stored energy operatingmeans for the switch;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary elevation view showing a portion of thecharging mechanism;

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary view of portions of the stored energy meansviewed from a plane parallel to but to the rear of that from which FIG.11 is taken with the parts in the position assumed immediately afterrelease of the spring mechanism; and,

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary plan view of a portion of the release mechanismfor operating the stored energy mechanism.

The illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown as a multi-poledisconnect switch 20 which has a rear frame 22 that mounts the switchback plate 24. First and second insulated terminals 26, 28 are carriedby the back plate and extend rearwardly therethrough. Contact arm 30 ispivotally mounted at 32 on the lower terminal 28 and cooperates with acompanion contact 34 mounted on the upper terminal to close the circuitbetween the terminals. A stored energy mechanism 36, having aunidirectional power stroke, is connected to the contact arm 30 bycoupling means 38. Although only two blade and contact assemblies areshown in FIG. 3 it is contemplated that the number of assemblies may beincreased or decreased in order to provide the desired number ofsimultaneously operated poles. The stored energy operating mechanism 36is operatively connected to the switch shaft 40 by the coupling means38. Switch operating shaft 46 is journaled in the main switch frame 42for oscillatory movement about its longitudinal axis. The coupling means38 and the stored energy means 36 Will be discussed in detail below.

The individual poles of the switch are identical and therefore only onewill be described in detail. A contact arm operating lever 44, having ayoked or bifurcated end 46, is fixed by conventional means to the switchoperating shaft it). A connecting member 48, of insulation, is pivotedat St) between the legs of yoke 46 of the lever 44. Contact arm 3%comprises a pair of spaced apart blades 3tla, 3ttb which straddle andengage the stationary contact 34. The blades 30a, 3012 are securedtogether for con current operation by a hinge bolt 32 and aspacer-andbolt arrangement 52. The end of the insulated member 48 passesbetween the blades 30a, 30b and is pivotally secured therebetween by abolt 54. Companion contact 34 is provided with a notched-out portion 56(FIG. 2) which accommodates the bolt-and-spacer 52 in the closed circuitposition of the switch. Operating arm 44 and connecting member 48 form atoggle linkage, indicated generally at 58. The knee of the toggle is atthe pivot 50 and the knee passes over-center of a line between the pivot54 and the center of the operating shaft 40 in the closed condition ofthe switch.

A single coupling means 38 for the switch is interposed between theswitch shaft itl and the stored energy Patented Nov. 24, 1964 operatingmechanism 36. The coupling means provides both contact-closing andcontact-opening forces from a uni-directional power stroke provided bythe stored energy mechanism. A power stroke of the stored energy means36 first oscillates the shaft 40 clockwise and, on a subsequent powerstroke in the same direction, rotates the shaft 419 counterclockwise.

One embodiment of the coupling means 38 (FIGS. 1, 2) includes atransverse plate cam 61) fixed to shaft 43 and a shiftable two-partdrive lever 62 which is pivoted by a pin 61 to the stored energyoperating means '56. The plate cam 60 has a generally semi-circularconfiguration and has a chord 64 which is substantially diametrical. Theextremities of chord 64 are provided with radially opposed drivesurfaces in the form of notches 66a, 66b which cooperate with a roller68 that is secured between and adjacent the free ends 62a of the drivelever 62. The cam 60 has a projecting car 69 on each end of the chord 64beyond the notches 66a, 661) which, together with the edge 76a, 7% offrame slot '71 control the orientation of the drive lever 62. Drivelever 62 is in either of two positions sequentially ie with the roller68 adjacent notch 66a or adjacent notch 66b. The location of the drivelever 62 in either of the alternate positions is determined by apositioning lever 72 which is pivoted on a portion 73 of the frame at 74intermediate the ends of the lever. The upper end 75 of the positioninglever 72 is connected by spring 76 to a pin 78 fixed to the drive lever62 intermediate its ends. A lost motion joint 80 between the positioninglever 72 and the switch shaft 419 is formed by a slot 32 in the lowerend of the positioning lever and a cooperating pin 84 secured to a drecting lever 86, fixed to the switch operating shaft 40.

Shaft 49 is driven from one position to another by release of the storedenergy means 36 which drives pin 59 downward in a uni-directional powerstroke. Operating shaft 46 is driven by the lever 62 from the positionof FIG. 1 to the position of FIG. 2 and the pin 34 on lever 86 is swungthrough an are which has the shaft 18 as its center. The arcuatemovement of pin 34 rocks the positioning lever 72 about its pivot 74.The rocking movement brings the lever end 75 toward a position whereinthe line of action of spring 76, between lever end 75 and pin 78 ondrive lever 62, passes over the pivot 74. When the stored energy meansis later recharged elevation of pin 59 occurs and the drive lever 62 isthereby pulled upwardly, and under the urging of the spring 76 ispivoted to the position shown in FIG. 2 against the frame stop 7%. Asubsequent power stroke of the stored energy means will drive theoperating shaft 411 in the opposite direction returning the switch tothe condition shown in FIG. 1.

A presently preferred embodiment of the coupling means 33 is illustratedin FIGS. 4 and 5. The drive lever 62' is coupled by pin 59 to the storedenergy means 36 from which it receives the operating thrust for theswitch. Roller 63' is secured to the free end 62a of the drive lever 62in operative relation with the radially opposed drive surfaces ornotches 66a and 66b formed in blocks 90. The blocks are mounted on atransverse bar 92 secured to shaft 40. A mounting plate 94 is attachedto the vertical portions 95 of the blocks. The lower edges 6 of plate 94together with the blocks 9% and shaft 41 delimit the area of movement ofthe free end of the drive lever 62'. A multi-part pantograph-likelinkage 98 connects the drive lever end 88 to the mounting plate 94. Thepantograph 98 includes a first pair 1% of toggle-like links 102, 104which are joined together at a knee 196. The first toggle 1 .10 ispivoted at 107 to the end 62a of the drive lever and to a fixed pivot198 on the mounting plate 94'. A second pair 119 of togglelike links112, 114 are pivotally joined together at a knee 116 and are alsopivoted to the drive lever and to the fixed pivot having common pivotpoints with the first toggle 1th) thereto. A tension spring 118 isconnected between the knees 106, 116 of the toggles 100, 110 and urgesthe knees together thereby attempting to straighten or erect the toggle.The straightening bias of spring 118 at all times urges the lever end ofthe linkage, i.e. pivot 107, to a position of minimum extension of thespring 118.

The operation of the pantograph 98 will be best understood by referenceto FIGS. 6 through 9. In FIG. 5 the coupling 38' is shown prior to thedischarge of the stored energy means 36. At this time the roller 68' isagainst a surface of the vertical block portion to which the mountingplate 94 is secured. Roller 68 is therefore positioned adjacent thenotch 66a against the block 90. The toggles 1G0, 116 are substantiallyerect under the bias of spring 118. The fixed pantographed pivot 108 isto the right of a line passing between the pin 59 and the center of theoperating shaft 40. When the power stroke of the stored energy mechanism36 is commenced the pin 59 is driven downwardly as shown in FIG. 6.Roller 68' seats in notch 66a and delivers the uni-directional operatingthrust of the stored energy mechanism 36 to the shaft 46 through the bar92. The thrust causes the shaft 41) to be rotated about its longitudinalaxis and thereby causes the transverse bar 92 and plate 94 to theposition shown in FIG. 7. Pantograph fixed pivot 168 is swung across thepreviously described line between the pin 59 and the center of shaft 40.

Referring to FIG. 8, as the stored energy means is recharged the pin 59is retracted vertically. At this time the drive lever pivot 107 of thepantograph 98 is to the left of a line between the pantograph fixedpivot 108 and the center of shaft 40. As the drive lever 62 is liftedthe toggles 100, are caused to collapse against the erecting bias ofspring 118. When the pantograph pivot 107 is drawn overcenter of theline between the fixed pivot 19% and the center of the shaft 48 theerecting force of spring 118 attempts to erect the toggles 100, 110. Theforce of spring 118 causes the pantograph to shift about pivot 1138thereby driving the lever 62' to the position shown in FIG. 9 wherein itis ready for a subsequent power stroke of the stored energy mechanism todrive the shaft 49 in the opposite direction.

A stored energy means of the type illustrated in the drawings is morefully described in co-pending application S.N. 101,314, filed February17, 1961, now Patent No. 3,097,275, which is assigned to the sameassignee as the present invention. Referring to FIGS. 10-13, the storedenergy mechanism 36 has opposed pairs of compression springs 12% whichare contained within a housing 124 affixed to the switch frame. Each ofthe energy storage springs 12% is positioned about a guide rod 122 andreacts between an end cap 124 and a U-shaped piston 126 slidable withinthe housing. The movement of each piston 126 is guided by an inner 128and outer 130 guide pin. The path of the pistons 126 is determined byhousing slots 132 engaged by the pins 128, 130.

Energy which has been accumulated in the springs 120, is delivered, whenthe springs are discharged through a thrust link 134 to the pin 59 tothe drive lever 62. Link 134 is reciprocable vertically and is guided byrods 135 (FIGS. 1, 2) that cooperate with portions of the housing (notshown). The pistons 126 are coupled to thrust link 134 by pairs ofopposed links or levers 136 (only one pair being shown). Links 136 arepivoted on the outer guide pins 128 between the pistons and the housingwall on each side of the pistons. The links are pivoted together at 138to the thrust link 134 and form a toggle 139. Thrust link 134- andtoggle links 136 pass through an opening in the housing to the exteriorthereof. When the springs are fully compressed, the toggle 139 iserected. When the energy storage mechanism is discharged the pistons 126are driven toward one another and the toggle 139 is collapsed. When thetoggle 139 is approaching its fully collapsed position, maximum thrustis transmitted to thrust link 1134 due to the lever action of the togglelinks 136. In this way the increased energy required at the end of thestroke is provided.

Referring to the drawings, a pair of double lobe edge cams 140 (only onebeing shown) are secured to hollow shaft 142 which is journalled in thehousing 124. The innermost piston guide pins 128 are forced against theedge of the cams by the springs 12G pushing against the pistons. Sincethe springs 120 are the same and are applied to opposed sides of the camthere is little or no strain on the shaft 142. Absence of unbalancedstresses reduces the friction which retards the speed of operation. Eachlobe of each cam 142 (see FIG. has a low point 142a, positive anglesegment 140b, high point 1411c, negative angle segment 148d and asharp-drop off radially aligned segment 14%. Rotation of the cams 141from their discharged position shown in FIG. 12 to the charged positionshown in FIG. 10 causes the pistons 126 to move away from theirdischarged-abutting position, against the force of the storage springs120. Rotation of the cams may be produced by either a manual chargingmechanism 144 or a power charging mechanism 146 and is stopped when thepins 130 have traversed the periphery of the cam from the low point 14%through the positive angle segment 1413b past the high point 1400 andinto the negative angle segment 1411a. The force of the compressedstorage springs 120 pressing the pins 128 against the cams makes thecams 140 rotate, independent of the charging mechanism 144, 146, oncethe pins 128 are on the negative angle segment 140d of the camperiphery. However, the cams 140 are locked against the continuedmovement in the discharging direction by a spring loaded pivotal stop148 which engages a complementary struckup projection 150 on one of thecams (FIGS. 11, 12). Stop 148 is mounted on a shaft 152 within thehousing 124. Shaft 152 extends through, and is pivotally mounted in, theWall of the housing. Bell crank 154 is afiixed to the external end ofshaft 152 and tension spring 156 extends between the short end of bellcrank 154 and the housing 124. The long end of the crank is releasablyengaged by pivotal rolling-D stop 158 afiixed to the shaft 161 whichextends through and is pivoted on the housing wall. Lever 162, mountedon shaft 161) inside the housing, extends to the exterior through a slotin the housing. Lever 162 is maintained in its erect position by spring164. Pivotal movement of lever 162 and shaft 160 is caused by a slide166 (see FIG. 13) which is slidably secured to the housing by two screwspassing through a slot in the slide. A slide return spring (not shown)is positioned about the slide and reacts against the housing. Thecontoured segment 168 of slide 166 contacts the lever 162, as best seenin FIG. 13, so that the lever is pivoted when the slide is movedinwardly. Knob 176 is affixed to the end of the slide and protrudes fromhousing 124 to a position wherein it is accessible to the operator.

A power driven char ing mechanism 146 may be utilized to supply theenergy for compressing the storage springs 12! The power chargingmechanism includes a motor (not shown) which is coupled to a ratchetwheel 172 secured to the hollow shaft 142 (which also carries thedoubled-lobed charging cams 14(1). The hub 172:: of the ratchet wheelhas two diametrically opposed teeth 1721) cut into its external faceforming half on a uni-directional clutch 173 (FIG. 11). Shaft 142 alsoserves as a bearing surface for the angularly reciprocated drivingmember 174 which is pivoted on the shaft between the ratchet wheel 1'72and the wall of the housing. An eccentric drive cam 176 is secured tothe motor output shaft 178 and has a roller 18! rotatably securedthereto in an offset position (see FIG. 11).

The driving member 174 is provided with a cam surface 182 which iscontacted by the roller 181) when the eccentric cam 176 is rotated bythe motor. A driving pawl 184 is mounted on the driving member 174 andengages the toothed periphery of the ratchet wheel for driving the wheelin only one direction, clockwise as seen in FIG. 11. Drive pawl 184 isurged into engagement with the wheel in one direction, by bias spring186 connected between the housing and the pawl. Spring 186 also returnsthe drive member 174 to its initial position after each suchoscillation. The periphery of the ratchet wheel has certain teethremoved therefrom forming flats 188, at points corresponding to thefully charged position of the storage spring making the pawl 184 unableto advance the ratchet wheel 172 because it drives against the toothlesssection 188 of the ratchet wheel periphery. The ratchet wheel 172 isindexed a tooth at a time for each revolution of the eccentric drivingcam 176. The wheel 172 is allowed to move in the charging direction onlyby retaining pawls 190, 190a pivoted on the housing 124 andinterconnected by a tension spring 192.

The handle 194 of the manual charging means 144 is secured to one end ofshaft 196 which is rotatably carried by the hollow shaft 142. A clutchsegment (not shown) complementary to clutch segment 173 is secured tothe handle shaft 196. When the handle is rotated the clutch 173 engagesand the ratchet wheel 172 is driven to the fully charged position.

When it is desired to operate the switch 20 from one position toanother, i.e. from opened to closed or from closed to open, the storedenergy means 36 is operated by releasing the stop 148. Stop 148 isreleased by manually depressing the button 170 connected to slide 166.When the stop 148 is thus operated the cams are free to rotate under theimpetus of the springs 120. Slight rotation of the cam 140 allows theinner guide pin 128 to drop off the cam segment 140d, thereby applyingthe full force of the springs 120 to the toggle 139. When the springs120 are free of the cam 184 the entire force of the springs 129 is onthe toggle links 136 through the pistons 126 and pins 130. The pistons126 are driven toward one another rapidly, without any drag attributableto the charging mechanism, causing the links 126 to drive the thrustlink 134 downwardly in a uni-directional power stroke thereby drivingthe drive lever 62 against the notches 66a, or 66b in the coupling means38. This driving movement causes the change in condition of the switchas desired. As the springs 120 are recharged the thrust link 134 isdrawn upwardly by the outward movements of the pistons 126. The upwardmovement of the thrust link 134 lifts up the drive lever 62.

Overcentering means 200 is provided to maintain the switch toggle 58 inits erected position. The overcentering mechanism includes an'arm 292secured to the main switch operating shaft 40. A spring guide rod 294 ispivoted at 206 to the arm 202 and at the other end of the rod freelypasses through a slot formed in a frame mounted bracket 2116. Anovercentering spring 2118 is positioned about the guide rod 2114 andreacts between the bracket 206 and a retainer 216 secured to the rod 92adjacent the pivot-2G6. When the switch is open the overcenteringmechanism is in the position shown in phantom in FIG. 1 and when theswitch is closed it is in the solid line position of FIG. 1. The pivot2% passes overcenter of a line drawn between the center of the slot andthe bracket 206 and the center of the switch shaft 40 during themovement of the opened to closed position. The overcentering means 200is effective to prevent rebound of the contact arm 30 from thestationary contact 34 during the closing operation of the switch.

When it is desired to operate the switch 20 as from the open position tothe closed position the charged stored energy means is released by theoperator pressing button inwardly to eflect release of the springs 1211.Thrust link 134 then drives the lever 62 of the coupling means 38 intoengagement with the notch 66b in a unidirectional power stroke.Continued thrust causes the switch operating shaft 41) to rotateclockwise in its bearings. Rotation of shaft 4% drives the contact arms30 about their respective pivots 32 into engagement with the stationarycontacts 34 thereby erecting the toggle 58. Overcentering means 209 atfirst resists the movement of shaft 46) but is overcome and then assistsin driving the contacts closed. The stored energy means 36 produces highvelocity-high energy closing of the contacts. This is due to theincreasing momentum during the power stroke, and due to the changingangle of links 136 in relation to the horizontal line along whichelements 139 are driven by the springs. The contact closing force isgreat near the completion of the contact closing stroke. This is sodespite the fact that the spring force of the stored-energy mechanismdiminishes as it delivers its stored energy. High contact-closing forcedevelops as the toggle 44, 48 becomes erect.

The stored energy means is subsequently recharged, drawing the thrustlink 134 upwardly. Upward movement of the thrust link allows a shift ofthe drive lever 62 from its first position adjacent notch 66b to itssecond position adjacent notch 66a. In the presently preferredembodiment of the invention this shift of the drive lever is broughtabout by the pantograph linkage 98.

When the springs 12% have been fully compressed the switch is ready fora subsequent operation. Release of the springs 126 drives the thrustlink 134 downwardly. This time the drive lever 62 is adjacent notch 66aand the delivered thrust causes the shaft 40 to rotate counterclockwise.Counterclockwise rotation of shaft 40 causes the contact arm to pivot,at high speed, away from the stationary contacts 34. The high energylevel available is effective to free the contact arms from thestationary contacts and to overcome the inertia of the moving parts.

Subsequent recharging of the stored energy means 36 causes the drivelever to be lifted and swung to a position adjacent notch 66b by thepantograph 98. When the springs are fully charged the switch is readyfor the next cycle of operation.

While several embodiments of the invention have been shown and describedit will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variousmodifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention.

What we claim is:

1. A switch having a first terminal and a second terminal, a contact armpivotally mounted on said first terminal for movement between opencircuit and closed circuit positions, a companion contact mounted onsaid second terminal for engagement by said contact arm in the closedcircuit position, a toggle connected to said contact arm and operableinto an erect condition for moving the contact arm into its closedcircuit position, and into a collapsed condition for moving the contactarm into its open position, stored energy operating means for saidtoggle including an energy storage spring, means for charging thespring, and a releasable detent for holding the spring in its chargedcondition, said energy storage means having uni-directional powerstrokes alternating with return recharging strokes and means including areversing mechanism coupling said stored energy means and said togglefor moving the contact arm between said open and said closed circuitpositions, and vice versa, in response to suecessive uni-directionalpower strokes of said stored energy means.

2. A switch having a first terminal and a second terminal, a contact armpivotally mounted on said first terminal for movement between opencircuit and closed circuit positions, a companion contact mounted onsaid second terminal for engagement by said contact arm in the closedcircuit position, a switch operating shaft, a toggle linkage betweensaid contact arm and said shaft, said toggle being substantially erectin the closed circuit position, stored energy operating means havinguni-directional power strokes alternating with return rechargingstrokes, means coupling said stored energy means and said shaft formoving said contact arm between said open and closed circuit positionsand vice versa, in response to successive uni-directional power strokesof said stored energy means, and overcentering means for resilientlyretaining said toggle in said erect-closed circuit position.

circuit position, an operating shaft for said contact arm,

a companion contact mounted on said second terminal for engagement bysaid contact arm in the closed circuit position, and means for operatingsaid contact arm including energy storage spring means, means forcharging said spring means, a detent for holding the spring meanscharged, and coupling means between said stored energy spring means andsaid operating shaft, said coupling means including a transverse membersecured to said operating shaft and extending on both sides thereof,said transverse member having drive surfaces positioned on oppositesides of said shaft, a drive lever connected at one end to said storedenergy means and having a free end for driving engagement with the drivesurfaces on said transverse member, and means for positioning said freeend of said drive lever adjacent alternate ones of said drive surfacesin sequence in response to the position of said shaft, wherebysequential discharge strokes of said stored energy spring operate saidcontact arm successively to its open circuit position and its closedcircuit position immediately after each release of said detent.

4. A switch having a first terminal and a second terminal, a contact armpivotally mounted on said first terminal for movement between opencircuit and closed circuit positions, a companion contact mounted onsaid second terminal for engagement by said contact arm in the closedcircuit position, stored energy operating means having uni-directionalpower strokes alternating with return recharging strokes, and meanscoupling said stored energy means and said contact arm for operatingsaid contact arm, said coupling means including an oscillatable outputshaft, a transverse member secured to said shaft and extending on bothsides thereof, said transverse member having radially opposed drivesurfaces positioned on opposite sides of said shaft, a drive leverconnected at one end to said stored energy means and having a free endfor driving engagement with the drive surfaces on said transversemember, means for positioning said free end of said drive lever adjacentalternate ones of said drive surfaces in sequence, said positioningmeans being responsive to the position of said shaft, said positioningmeans including a directing lever secured to said shaft, a positioninglever pivoted intermediate its ends, said positioning lever having alost-motion coupling to said directing lever at one end, and a springbetween said drive lever and the other end of said positioning lever,whereby the sequential return recharging strokes shift the drive leverto the position determined by said positioning means and sequentialpower strokes of said stored energy means oscillate said output shaft,and means operatively connecting said output shaft and said contact armwhereby said contact arm is moved between said open circuit and closedcircuit position by movement of said output shaft.

5. A switch having a first terminal and second terminal, a contact armpivotally mounted on said first terminal for movement between opencircuit and closed circuit positions, a companion contact mounted onsaid second terminal for engagement by said contact arm in the closedcircuit position, stored energy operating means having uni-directionalpower strokes alternating with return recharging strokes, and meanscoupling said stored energy means and said contact arm for operatingsaid contact arm, said coupling means including an oscillatable outputshaft, a transverse member secured to said shaft and extending on bothsides thereof, said transverse member having radially opposed drivesurfaces positioned on opposite sides of said shaft, a drive leverconnected at one end to said stored energy means and having a free endfor driving engagement with the drive surfaces on said transversemember, means for positioning said free end of said drive lever adjacentalternate ones of said drive surfaces in sequence, said positioningmeans being responsive to the position of said shaft, said positioningmeans including a spring biased pantograph linkage interconnecting thedrive end of said lever and said transverse member, whereby sequentialpower strokes of said stored energy means oscillate said output shaft,and means operatively connecting said output shaft and said contact armwhereby said contact arm is moved between said open circuit and closedcircuit position by said output shaft.

6. A switch having a frame and first and second mounted terminals onsaid frame, a contact arm pivotally mounted on said first terminal formovement between circuit open and circuit closed positions, a companioncontact mounted on said second terminal, stored energy operating meanshaving uni-directional power strokes alternating with return rechargingstrokes, a switch shaft mounted for oscillatory movement in said frame,means operatively connecting said switch shaft and said contact armwhereby the oscillatory movement of said switch shaft drives saidcontact arm between said circuit open and circuit closed positions, aplate cam secured to said operating shaft, said plate cam havingradially opposed drive surfaces, at shiftable drive lever, said drivelever connected at one end to said stored energy mechanism and carryinga plate cam drive surface engaging member at the other, said drive leveradapted to engage alternate ones of said plate cam drive surfaces, meansfor shifting said drive lever between said alternate surfaces includinga positioning lever pivotally mounted on said frame, an operating leversecured to said switch shaft, a lost motion coupling between saidoperating lever and one end of said positioning lever, and spring meansbetween the remote end of said positioning lever and said drive lever,said shifting means urging said drive lever, in response to the positionof said switch shaft, to the other of said plate cam engaging positionswhereby successive uni-directional power strokes of said stored energyoperating means drive said contact arm between said open and closedcircuit positions.

Deans July 10, 1934 Wiktor July 9, 1963

1. A SWITCH HAVING A FIRST TERMINAL AND A SECOND TERMINAL, A CONTACT ARMPIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON SAID FIRST TERMINAL FOR MOVEMENT BETWEEN OPENCIRCUIT AND CLOSED CIRCUIT POSITIONS, A COMPANION CONTACT MOUNTED ONSAID SECOND TERMINAL FOR ENGAGEMENT BY SAID CONTACT ARM IN THE CLOSEDCIRCUIT POSITION, A TOGGLE CONNECTED TO SAID CONTACT ARM AND OPERABLEINTO AN ERECT CONDITION FOR MOVING THE CONTACT ARM INTO ITS CLOSEDCIRCUIT POSITION, AND INTO A COLLAPSED CONDITION FOR MOVING THE CONTACTARM INTO ITS OPEN POSITION, STORED ENERGY OPERATING MEANS FOR SAIDTOGGLE INCLUDING AN ENERGY STORAGE SPRING, MEANS FOR CHARGING THESPRING, AND A RELEASABLE DETENT FOR HOLDING THE SPRING IN ITS CHARGEDCONDITION, SAID ENERGY STORAGE MEANS HAVING UNI-DIRECTIONAL POWERSTROKES ALTERNATING WITH RETURN RECHARGING STROKES AND MEANS INCLUDING AREVERSING MECHANISM COUPLING SAID STORED ENERGY MEANS AND SAID TOGGLEFOR MOVING THE CONTACT ARM BETWEEN SAID OPEN AND SAID CLOSED CIRCUITPOSITIONS, AND VICE VERSA, IN RESPONSE TO SUCCESSIVE UNI-DIRECTIONALPOWER STROKES OF SAID STORED ENERGY MEANS.